Do the Ohio State Buckeyes have the necessary talent in the linebacker room, whether it be with defined star starters or with a committee approach, to survive the losses of projected top NFL draft picks Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles?
That's the question CBS Sports' Chip Patterson asked about Matt Patricia's defense and James Laurinaitis's LB corps ahead of the 2026 College Football season. Patterson listed upperclassmen Payton Pierce and Christian Alliegro, and sophomores TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn by name as the main replacements.
"Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia had the ability last year to use enough unique personnel packages that the line between starter and backup could become blurred at certain positions. It's the kind of defense, at least right now, where competitive snaps can be earned once you have earned the trust of the coaching staff, and with a roster as talent-laden as Ohio State, that usually comes down to performance in practice. So now the question is whether the Buckeyes do flex their depth at linebacker or pick a couple of leaders to ride with, because with Styles and Reese, you had two versatile defenders who fit every package with their talent needed to be on the field as much as possible," Patterson.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE room must step up if LB room takes step back
OSU could be hopeful that the LB production won't drop off much, but the Reese-Styles duo may be generational. A step back from that could be inevitable, even if all the best-case scenarios pan out for Patricia, Laurinaitis, and Co.
That doesn't mean the defense will be worse, though. In fact, if Beau Atkinson, Qua Russaw, and/or Zion Grady could provide Kenyatta Jackson Jr. with a worthy adversary on the opposite edge, there's a chance the Buckeyes could be better at pressuring the quarterback, which could pay dividends in close games.
Patricia had a great defense that didn't have to blitz much in 2025. Still, ranking No. 75 in the country with 35 sacks, even if Ohio State often got to ease on the gas pedal during their 11 double-digit wins, will not work as well without Reese and Styles.